AP Spanish vs AP Physics

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Sorry about this long post. We are new to the college process in the US. My S is currently a sophomore. He is going to pick a STEM major in college. He is ranked top of his class at a high profile, STEM high school and here are his classes so far:

9th Grade:
AP Comp Principles
AP World
Eng Hon I
Bio Hon
Spanish 2
Algebra II (H)

10th
AP Comp Sci A
AP Euro
AP Lang
Pre-calc (H)
Chem (H)
Spanish IB (H)

11th Grade
Eng IB SL (H)
AP Chem
AP Calc BC
AP US History
Required Tech Elective (Cyber security class, Mechtronics or Engg Design, all honors)
AP Spanish or AP Physics 2

12th Grade
AP Eng Lit
AP Stats or IB Calc HL
AP US Govt/Econ
AP Music Theory or IB Film SL for the art requirement
AP Spanish [If he took AP Phy 2]/ AP PHY 1 and 2 if he takes AP Spanish in Jr Year
AP Phy C (if he takes AP Phy 2 in Jr yr)

ECs: Varsity athlete, Div 1 club athlete, debater, debate coach, soccer referee, may take the EI class by John Hopkins this summer and a strong internship next year at a decent company

Here is the dilemma. If he takes AP Spanish in the Jr. year, he can complete all the foreign language requirements and his transcript will be a little more complete. The downside to that is he won’t have Physics on his Jr. year transcript and he won’t be able to take AP Phy C and instead will have to take AP Phy I and II in the senior year.
Will schools like MIT, Stanford and Cal-tech hold it against him that he did not take AP Phy C/E-M or will he still be competitive assuming all the SAT I and II scores come in high?

Also, if he does not take AP Spanish in 11th grade, is it doable in the 12th grade, after a year gap?
Any input will be appreciated and once again, apologize for the long post.
Wondering, if we should just hire a college counselor :slight_smile:

2

Perhaps replace AP chemistry with physics in 11th grade, take Spanish in 11th grade, and leave open the option of AP chemistry and/or another physics in 12th grade?

Also, IB math HL does not generally give more advanced placement in math in college than AP calculus BC.

Which possible STEM subjects are most interesting to him?

3

The problem is that he has to take SAT II in at least one science subject. If he takes AP Phy, he will have to take both AP Phy I and II because they are offered as separate classes and he won’t have room for Spanish. I am tempted to just have him take AP Chem and AP Spanish in the Jr. year and then take AP Phy I and II in the senior year. This will also allow him to maintain his class rank. He won’t be able to take AP PHY C and probably won’t be competitive for Cal-tech but he also wants to play soccer in college and I am not sure if Cal-tech is know for soccer even in DIV III :slight_smile:

He likes Comp Sci for now and he likes Math. Will see how he likes Mechtronics to narrow down the STEM choices.

4

Thanks UCbalumunus. He will take AP Phy 1 and 2 and most likely AP Spanish in 11th grade. He will take AP Phy C and AP Chem in Sr. Year. That should give him a competitive transcript, as long as he maintains the grades.